THE COUNTRY AHEAD OF US, THE COUNTRY BEHIND

The success of SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS brings new interest in Guterson's earlier work. These stories are read in complete form but, frustratingly, are unnamed on the package and only announced quickly before each starts. Most of the stories are about young men coming of age and are filled with Guterson's lustrous descriptions. Campbell Scott is very good with dialogue and character voices, and his conversations between brothers and young friends close in age are lively and memorable. However, in main narratives Scott doesn't modulate his tone enough to capture Guterson's inate rhythm. The narrative is too intense, without natural peaks and valleys. This doesn't detract significantly from these short works but would be tiring in a longer one. R.F.W. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 96]